Houghton County turns out to vote early. On October 24th, the Houghton County Early voting Center on Sharon Avenue welcomed the most voters the center saw over the nine-day period. The first day early voting was available for the November 2026 election; 269 voters filled out ballots. The early voting center in total allowed more than 1900 voters to take care of their civic duty before election day. On average, the early voting center greeted 216 voters each day. Houghton County Clerk Jennifer Kelly says there was a wonderful turnout at the center. After early voting wrapped up in November 2024, the Daily Mining Gazette reported 2,603 ballots were cast through early in-person voting.
In November 2022 voters in Michigan approved amending the state constitution to establish early in-person voting centers as a election participation option. The state provided initial funding to support early voting centers, and the burden now falls on counties to provide the service to voters. Some county clerks have expressed frustration since 2022 regarding early voting center due to questions around funding the operation in the future, training enough election staff, and adding the duty to already overwhelmed offices.
The nine days early in-person voting period is not the only way voters have finished filling out their ballots. Absentee voting began earlier in the fall after ballots were mailed at a voter request. Absentee mail-in ballots must arrive at the local clerk’s office by election day, November 3rd. Voters will begin arriving at polling places tomorrow when ballot boxes open at 7am. Voting on election day will last until 8 pm, local time.
Those interested in checking out their ballot before going to the polls can find a sample ballot on the Michigan Voter Information Center online portal. Those interested in learning more about candidates in the local area, and state or federal races can find the League of Women Voters Voters’ Guide online.
